PEP — Hordeum vulgare subsp. vulgare

Summary

HORVU.MOREX.R3.1HG0057560 (HvPEP, also known as HvKH20) on barley chromosome 1H encodes a KH domain-containing protein with RNA and mRNA binding activity, as well as DNA-binding transcription factor activity. This gene is associated with the regulation of flowering time, including downregulation of both short-day and long-day photoperiodism, and upregulation of flower development. It is linked to floral organ identity specification and maintenance, pistil development, and the vegetative-to-reproductive phase transition. HvPEP has been connected to anthocyanin accumulation in response to UV light, photomorphogenesis, shoot and seedling development, and embryogenesis. The gene is also associated with agronomic traits including plant height, grain weight, photosynthetic rate, respiration rate, quantum yield, disease tolerance, and abiotic stress response. Related genes in other species link the family to floral morphogenesis and determinacy.